In a move that has sparked widespread criticism, the Nigerian Federal Government has announced a new policy setting the minimum age for writing the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations (SSCE) and the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination at 18 years.
According to the Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, from 2025, any candidate who is not up to 18 will not be allowed to write the SSCE, effectively barring them from seeking admission into tertiary institutions. This policy, according to government officials, is aimed at ensuring that students are emotionally and intellectually mature before they proceed to higher education.
However, the announcement has been met with condemnation from critical stakeholders in the education sector, who argue that the policy is not only regressive but also paradoxical when considered in the broader context of Nigerian society. The irony of this policy becomes glaring when juxtaposed with other societal practices in Nigeria, where children under 18 are married off, sent to prison, or even given adult responsibilities far beyond their years.
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A Policy That Stifles Educational Progress
Nigeria operates a 6-3-3-4 educational system, where a child enrolls in school at age six, and spends six years in primary education, three years in junior secondary, and another three years in senior secondary before advancing to higher education. Under normal circumstances, a Nigerian student is expected to complete secondary education by the age of 17 or 18. However, due to various factors such as accelerated learning programs, some students finish secondary school by 16 or even younger.
Professor Mamman, speaking on a television program, justified the new policy by emphasizing that it aligns with the 6-3-3-4 system, which theoretically should see students completing secondary school at 18.
He argued that younger students lack the maturity required to thrive in a university environment.
“It is not just a matter of academic readiness; it’s about emotional and psychological maturity,” he said. “We have seen cases where students who entered university too early struggled to cope with the demands of higher education.”
Yet, this rationale has been met with strong opposition from educational stakeholders who see the policy as an unnecessary barrier to academic achievement. The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), the National Parents/Teachers Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN), the Congress of University Academics (CONUA), the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), and various non-governmental organizations have all voiced their concerns.
Dr. Mike Ene, Secretary General of the NUT, expressed his disappointment regarding the policy, stating, “One good thing about our minister is that he is a lecturer and also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. One hopes the policy will stand the test of time. They should have another look at the policy. They cannot just wake up and make such a decision. They must consult widely on it.”
Ene further warned that the policy could negatively impact the education sector, particularly for gifted students who excel academically but are younger than 18.
NAPTAN’s Deputy National President, Chief Adeolu Ogunbanjo, was even more critical, declaring that the association would challenge the policy in court if the government refused to drop it.
“We have spoken to some lawyers on the matter, they said we should just be patient for the year 2025 to roll in. Around March next year, before WAEC and others start to conduct the SSCE, we will sue the government if they refuse to drop the policy,” Ogunbanjo said.
The Irony of Child Protection in Nigeria
The policy’s introduction has brought to the fore a glaring irony in Nigeria’s approach to child development. While the government insists that students must be 18 to take on the academic rigors of higher education, it seems to turn a blind eye to other areas where children are forced into adulthood much earlier.
In many parts of Nigeria, it is not uncommon for girls as young as 12 or 13 to be married off, often to men much older than them. Child marriage is a pervasive issue in Nigeria, particularly in the northern regions, where cultural and religious practices allow for the marriage of girls well before they reach 18. According to UNICEF, Nigeria has one of the highest rates of child marriage in the world, with 43% of girls married before their 18th birthday, and 16% married before the age of 15.
The Nigerian legal system has also faced criticism for its treatment of minors. Children as young as 13 have been sent to prison for various offenses, where they are often incarcerated alongside adults. The country’s juvenile justice system is fraught with challenges, and many young offenders do not receive the protection and rehabilitation they need.
This practice stands in stark contrast to the government’s assertion that children under 18 are not mature enough for university but are seemingly mature enough to face the harsh realities of marriage and prison.
AriseTV journalist Oseni Rufai highlighted this contradiction in a commentary, stating, “They say pupils can’t go to university before 18, but they can get married at 12. Is this alliance with the other side of the country really benefiting us? Their way of reasoning is becoming increasingly frustrating.”
Lawyer Ridwan Oke echoed these sentiments, pointing out the inconsistencies in how the law treats minors in Nigeria.
“A 15-year-old is too small to be admitted into the University in Nigeria but a Court can grant a remand order to remand them in Police custody with adults. A 15-year-old is too small to be admitted into a University but some of them are not too small to be remanded in prison custody with adults in KiriKiri [prison],” Oke remarked. “Once again, Nigerian math will stress you.”
The decision to enforce an age limit for SSCE and university admission raises critical questions about the direction of education policy in Nigeria. It is believed that by placing arbitrary restrictions on when students can progress in their academic careers, the government risks stifling the potential of thousands of young Nigerians. Stakeholders are worried that this policy could create a backlog in the education system, with students who complete secondary school before 18 left in limbo, unable to advance to higher education.
Dr. Niyi Sunmonu, National President of CONUA, proposed a more flexible approach, suggesting that the minimum age for university admission should be set at 17.
“A student can leave secondary school at 16 or a little above that and seek admission for higher education at 17. The minister should call a meeting of stakeholders in the sector to deliberate on it,” Sunmonu advised. “The policy should go through the process of acceptance by all and even be legislated upon by the National Assembly. Parents want to be free from the burden of educating their children as soon as possible.”
This sentiment reflects the broader concern that the policy does not take into account the realities of modern education and child development. In today’s world, many children are starting school earlier and advancing through the education system more quickly than previous generations. By the time they reach secondary school, some students are ready to move on to university, regardless of whether they have reached the age of 18.
The Nigerian government’s approach to this issue appears to be rooted in a desire to control and regulate the education system rather than adapt to the changing needs of students and society. Stakeholders believe that this rigid stance has the potential to alienate young people and discourage them from pursuing higher education, particularly if they feel that their academic achievements are being disregarded in favor of an arbitrary age limit.
Mr. Oladapo Adekoya, a member of the Concerned Parents and Educators Network (CPE), pointed out that the policy reflects a “modern slavery mentality and approach.” Adekoya criticized the government for focusing on age rather than addressing the underlying issues that affect education and child welfare in Nigeria.
“These people are never serious. The real issues they will neglect and keep pursuing shadows,” he said. “At 18, a young adult should be fully set to launch a career path if all necessary skills and abilities are properly impacted. The curriculums themselves are outdated and practically useless. Let’s concentrate on the issues that matter, then the issue of age on admission will set in automatically.”
Concerned Nigerians said the irony of the situation is that while the government insists on the maturity of students entering university, it fails to recognize the contradictions in its policies and societal practices. It is believed that if Nigeria is to truly support the development and well-being of its young people, it must adopt a more consistent and comprehensive approach that considers all aspects of their lives, not just their age.